Retrofit or Rebuild? Differential social impacts of redevelopment in two models of 'green' regeneration of social housing in Germany and the UK

Keywords: social housing, public housing, gentrification, displacement, redevelopment, green transition, greening, sustainability, comparative study, England, Germany
Abstract Type: Virtual Paper Abstract

Abstract

As of today, very few studies have addressed the ‘green' gentrification of social housing estates, and no comparative study has been conducted to measure the differential impact of environmentally sustainable redevelopment plans on housing estate residents in different geographical contexts. In this presentation, I compare two case studies of “green” regeneration of social housing in Germany and England. I discuss differences in institutional and regulatory contexts, in financing models and frameworks, in the planning toolkits in use (retrofit vs rebuild, but also different approaches to greening), and assess their differential impacts on longstanding resident populations. Gartenstadt Drewitz, located in Potsdam (Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region), is a pilot regeneration scheme based on an energy-efficient retrofit of the existing housing blocks, and is financed by a local municipal development company in tandem with a number of federal, regional and municipal funding programs. Woodberry Down (London), is a self-financing model of redevelopment where council land is leased to a private developer, the old estate is gradually demolished and rebuilt, and the development of market-rate housing units cross-subsidizes the re-provision of housing at social rent.
Through the analysis of key socio-demographic indicators, I evaluate neighborhood change and assess the extent to which these two models have encouraged, accelerated or prevented processes of gentrification in the two communities. Based on the analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with residents and stakeholders in the estates, I finally assess the communities’ different receptions of the plans, and provide novel insights on residents' coping mechanisms in transitioning social housing neighbourhoods.